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Read MoreGovernor Charlie Baker announced yesterday that the temporary orders to reduce capacity and limit gatherings that were put into effect on December 26 will be extended to January 24, 2021. The temporary order was originally set to expire on Sunday.
Lt. Governor Karyn Polito indicated that the administration hopes that these restrictions remain temporary.
The temporary orders reduce capacity to 25 percent for most businesses and limit gatherings to no more than 10 people inside and 25 people outside. Workers and staff are excluded from event occupancy counts. The gatherings limit applies to private homes, event venues and public spaces.
The capacity order applies to a wide array of businesses but excludes K-12 education, manufacturers, laboratories, and construction.
The 25 percent temporary capacity and gathering order applies to the following industries:
Sector | Revised Capacity Limits† | Notes |
Gatherings (adjusting Order No. 57) | 10 persons indoors
25 persons outdoors |
applies to both private homes and event venues and public spaces |
Restaurants | 25% of seating capacity | (a) workers/staff excluded from occupancy count;
(b) applies separately to indoor and outdoor capacity |
Close Contact Personal Services | 25% | workers/staff excluded from occupancy count |
Indoor and Outdoor Events | 10 persons indoors
25 persons outdoors |
workers/staff excluded from occupancy count |
Theaters and Performance Venues
(Indoor performance venues remain closed) |
Movie theaters – 25% and maximum 50 people
Outdoor performance venues – 25% and maximum 25 people |
|
Casinos | 25% | MGC to re-issue capacity rules as necessary |
Office Spaces | 25% | |
Places of Worship | 25% | workers/staff excluded from occupancy count |
Retail Businesses | 25% | workers/staff excluded from occupancy count |
Driving and Flight Schools | 25% | |
Golf Facilities | 25% | applies only to indoor spaces |
Libraries | 25% | |
Operators of Lodgings | 25% | applies only to common areas |
Arcades & Other Indoor & Outdoor Recreation Businesses | 25% | |
Fitness Centers and Health Clubs | 25% | |
Museums / Cultural & Historical Facilities / Guided Tours by vehicles and vessels | 25% | |
Sectors Not Otherwise Addressed | 25% | |
Common Areas in facilities subject to EEA-issued COVID-19 safety rules | 25% | applies only to indoor spaces and excludes youth and amateur sports facilities |
†General Provision: Where no licensed or permitted capacity allowance is on record and for any enclosed space within a larger facility, occupancy shall be limited to no more than 5 persons per 1,000 square feet. |
All other rules and restrictions in each sector-specific guidance will remain in effect. For additional legal guidance for essential businesses, please click here.
Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders also issued new hospital guidance:
Hospital Tier Escalation: All regions across the state have been escalated to Tier 4 status. The Department of Public Health’s hospital guidance, issued in early November, establishes a regional tiering system to support continued collaboration among hospitals and sustain capacity. Since early December, all regions across the commonwealth have been in Tier 3 status, which established a framework for greater coordination to balance patient load. In Tier 4, the hospitals in each region will meet at least daily, and will continue to collaborate across regions where necessary, to address growing capacity constraints and continue to load balance as needed.
ICU Nurse Staffing Ratios: The commonwealth is allowing hospitals with severe capacity constraints to request a temporary exemption from the mandated nurse-to-patient ratios in the ICU. This option will only be available to hospitals with capacity of less than 20percent that first attest that they have suspended all non-essential elective invasive procedures, including those conducted in an outpatient setting under the hospital’s license.
Additionally, hospitals must take every reasonable step to expand capacity prior to requesting a temporary exemption. If a hospital’s bed capacity increases, or if the hospital re-starts nonessential elective invasive procedures, the hospital must resume compliance with the ICU staffing requirements.
If you have compliance questions please contact the AIM Hotline at 800-470-6277 or if you have any policy related questions regarding these new orders please contact Brad MacDougall, SVP for Government Affairs (AIM) call 617-262-1180 or any member of the AIM Team.
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